Guardian Media Group is in talks to sell The Observer to the online news outlet Tortoise Media after operating losses at the company’s parent widened to £43.5 million.
The Observer, which is the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper, is set to be transformed into a subscription business if it is bought by the start-up established by James Harding, a former editor of The Times.
The Observer and The Guardian have historically been made available online at no cost and funded through advertising and reader contributions, but the Sunday title is expected to be taken behind a digital paywall for the first time in its 233-year history if a deal is made with Tortoise. It is understood that Tortoise would maintain The Observer’s print edition.
• Guardian